FRESHWATER PEARLS

China has the largest share of pearl cultivation in the whole world and its freshwater pearl cultivation dates back to 2206 B.C.

The freshwater pearls sold by Oyster Pearl are from the region of China shown on the map with an arrow.

Freshwater pearls are cultivated from mussels in pools, streams and lakes. In fact, the mussel comes from a mollusc family that does not produce pearls. It is through the cultivation method that the grafting process quickly leads to mass production. Through the grafting process, a freshwater pearl forms from the grafting of 20 or more pieces of tissue from the thin mussel shell. This is how the mussel produces a large number of pearls. However, the vast majority of these pearls are misshapen, blemished and scratched, while unscratched round or elliptic specimens making up less than 2% of overall production.

Less organic material forms in the nacre of freshwater pearls than in that of sea oysters. The scarcity of organic material in lakes, streams and cultivation pools gives these pearls a unique, glass like lustre.

The grafting takes place when the oysters are still small and the cultivation period lasts 3–6 months. Their sizes vary between 3.5 and 8mm.

At Oyster Pearl, our choice of freshwater pearls bears no resemblance to the scratched and blemished pearls widely found on the market; we choose the clearest, most lustrous products, keeping only 2% or, in other words, 200 out of 10,000 pearls. Freshwater pearls present a reasonably priced alternative to saltwater pearls.